Couplable portable device for the thermal medical treatment of skin

ABSTRACT

A portable device for the thermal medical treatment of skin allows a treatment attachment to be coupled to a mobile data-processing unit, preferably a smartphone or a tablet, via an interface, wherein a housing of the treatment attachment which extends over the treatment attachment is provided with a heating element directly underneath the surface facing away from the data-processing unit in the coupled state, the heating element being coupled to a temperature sensor, wherein the heating element, with the interposition of a control unit, is connected to the electrically conductive interface or, via a Bluetooth connection, to the data-processing unit in such a way that the heating element is supplied with power via one or more rechargeable batteries integrated into the data-processing unit in such a way that the heating element can be heated to a temperature predefined via the control unit.

The invention relates to a couplable device for the thermal-medicaltreatment of skin, in particular in the case of skin irritations orminor injuries as can be induced, for example, by insect bites orplants.

A device for the local thermal treatment of insect bites is alreadyknown in this context from EP 1 231 875 B1, which is capable of actingon the affected skin region using a heat treatment. Specifically, thisdevice is equipped with a heating element, which is embodied as anelectrical heating plate and is powered by a voltage source (notspecified in greater detail). In this case, the temperature of theheating plate is limited to a highest temperature of 50-65°, preferablyof 55° to 60°, to avoid possible burns. Moreover, this temperature isonly maintained for a time frame of a few seconds. To ensure this, theheating element is provided with a temperature sensor and with a controlunit in order to control the corresponding heat treatment, in particularthe temperature used and the duration of the mentioned treatmentaccording to the above-explained specifications. In practice, however,it is rather impractical to carry along a heating plate in conjunctionwith outdoor activities.

In the case of the above-mentioned skin irritations, it has been shownthat the effectiveness of the mentioned heat treatment is alsodependent, inter alia, on the mentioned heat treatment being carried outas rapidly as possible. However, because the mentioned skin irritationsare primarily caused by insect bites, plants, or also fish, algae, orjellyfish or other cnidarians, thus frequently in the so-called outdoorarea, it is advisable to carry out the mentioned heat treatment asrapidly as possible, i.e., best directly on location. It is self-evidentthat the most compact possible solution enables continuous carryingalong and thus a timely treatment.

Moreover, a method for treating dry eyes is known from US 2017/0079834A1, in which heatable strips are applied above and below the human eye,which are each connected via current-conducting cables to a programmablecontrol unit, which controls the further treatment of the mentioned eyeparts. This control unit is additionally connected to a portableelectronic device, for example, a smart phone or a tablet. The powersupply of the heatable strips is performed, however, via the controlunit, so that a suitable energy accumulator also has to be integratedinto this control unit.

A portable device for treating external boils, i.e., swelling of thehuman body, is previously known from WO 2015/1909397 A1, which alsoteaches acting on the affected body parts using heated strips orcompresses. A heat treatment is also carried out here, wherein it isalso expected here of the user that he carries along a comparativelyvoluminous portable unit for the case of a corresponding injury to beable to treat the mentioned body swelling in an emergency.

Finally, a portable item of clothing is known from US 2017/017 2227, inparticular for clothing the upper body, in which so-called micro-tubesare incorporated, wherein each of these tubes is provided with an inletand an outlet, so that it is possible to conduct heated or cooled airthrough these micro-tubes to provide cooling or heating to the user.Moreover, this piece of clothing is provided with an environmentalsensor for detecting the ambient temperature, so that an automaticregulation is possible in dependence on the ambient temperature and thepresets presumably selected by the user. This thus relates to atemperature control of the human body, in particular the upper body, butnot to a treatment of possible skin irritations.

Moreover, devices are already known which can alleviate the itching andthe swelling of insect bites in a targeted manner by means ofconcentrated heat and a micro-electrical controller (EP 1231875,CN102429762A, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,537,605B2, 7,637,930B2, DE202012100037,DE202014104077U1, WO2007/082648, DE 000019954424 A1). All above devicesshare the feature that they function independently and are provided witha housing which is also required for handling the previously knowndevices during the heat treatment. None of the cited devices isInternet-capable or otherwise networked.

As a result, all previously known devices thus appear unsuitable forphysically active outdoor use, for example, for types of sports such asfree climbing or mountain biking or also longer bicycle tours or hikes,in which the baggage carried along is generally limited, because theycannot be reasonably carried along as a result of the weight and thesize thereof. This also applies to carrying them along continuously ineveryday use.

Proceeding from this prior art, the invention is based on the object ofproviding a portable device, which can be carried along easily in aspace-saving and weight-saving manner and rapidly provides an initialalleviation or even a complete remedy in conjunction with the mentionedskin irritations.

This object is achieved by means of a portable device according topresent claim 1. Advantageous designs of the invention can be inferredfrom present claims 2-10.

According to present claim 1, the invention relates to a portable devicefor the thermal-medical treatment of the skin, as is performed, forexample, in conjunction with insect bites or other skin irritations. Inthis case, the device according to the invention essentially consists ofa small-format treatment attachment, which is only a few centimeterswide and long and can thus be carried along without problems in thetrouser pocket, for example.

The treatment attachment essentially consists of a housing and isequipped on the lower side with an interface for coupling to a mobiledata processing unit. The treatment attachment both has a dataconnection to the mobile data processing unit and also is supplied withelectrical energy via this interface. Due to the external power supply,the energy accumulator typically integrated into the mobile dataprocessing unit can be used to energize a suitably arranged heatingelement. The surface thus heated can be placed by corresponding handlingof the connected data processing unit onto the skin surface to betreated, so that it is subjected to a heat treatment in a preferredrange between 50° and 65°.

This thermal treatment is used to alleviate the itching and for a morefavorable course of healing, relating to the treatment of insect bites,snake venom, or urticants, as are transferred, for example, from plantsor animals, such as jellyfish. The device according to the invention canadditionally be used for treating herpes or other skin diseases.

For example, introduced toxicants are decomposed and the healing processis accelerated as a whole by the heat treatment. In this case, thecourse of treatment can be displayed and followed on the data processingunit via the data connection. The risk of possible infections, forexample, as a result of insect bites or tick bites, is also reduced inthis way.

In the coupled state, the handling of the small-format treatmentattachment is facilitated in that the typically larger-area dataprocessing unit can be used to place the treatment attachment asintended on the skin part to be treated.

In a specific design, a heating element, which is generally implementedby a resistor which heats up upon energizing, is arranged in the housingof the treatment attachment directly below the surface of the treatmentattachment facing away from the data processing unit in the coupledstate. A temperature sensor, via which the ambient temperature of theresistor is detected, is arranged directly adjacent to this heatingelement.

In a further design, the temperature sensor has a data connection viathe interface to the mobile data processing unit, so that thetemperature of the resistor can be controlled and/or regulated viasuitable software.

In this case, both the mentioned heating element and also thetemperature sensor are connected to the mobile data processing unit viathe above-mentioned interface with a microcontroller interconnected. Thecontrol or regulation of the temperature of the resistor is performed inthis case via the mentioned microcontroller and therefore if necessaryindependently of the mobile data processing unit. In this case, theheating element and the temperature sensor can be combined in a singlecomponent.

In one advantageous design of the invention, the interface is used notonly for the power supply of the resistor employed for the heattreatment, but rather also for the data connection to the mobile dataprocessing unit. In this way, further items of information, for example,relating to the course of treatment, can be transmitted to the dataprocessing unit and stored therein.

Moreover, the obtained data can also be used to obtain items ofinformation about potential insect plagues, and also the spread ofinsects or illnesses.

In another advantageous design of the invention, the treatmentattachment itself can also already be provided with a small energyaccumulator, so that the treatment attachment as such is usable for anat least initial alleviating treatment if necessary, for example, if adata processing unit is not available or the data processing unit is notitself functional. Under these circumstances, the treatment attachmentcan optionally also be used as a stand-alone device.

The data obtained in conjunction with this treatment can be transmitted,for example, wirelessly via the microcontroller, i.e., for example, viaBluetooth, to the data processing unit.

To enable the universal usage of the treatment attachment, the interfaceis provided with the conventional connectors for connection to typicaldata processing units, i.e., for example, a lightning or USB connector.In principle, a wireless connection is also possible, for example, viaBluetooth or induction. The attachment is thus usable in conjunctionwith all commercially available mobile data processing units.

In one advantageous design, the invention is embodied as water-resistantor even watertight to enable the usage under difficult circumstances,i.e., for example, in rain, and hygienic cleaning.

In another advantageous design, the mobile data processing unit isequipped with software, which can be used for operating and controllingthe treatment attachment. To improve the functionality and the treatmentcarried out by means of the treatment attachment, for example, the usercan store individual parameters, such as an application case, affectedbody region, age, sensitivity, or relevant illnesses in the software, sothat the treatment can be controlled and/or regulated in considerationof these parameters.

Furthermore, the software can be used to make an emergency call inconjunction with a location specification, for example, upon theoccurrence of defined events, i.e., for example, if no further activityor movement of the user of the device according to the invention can beestablished after a defined time after the treatment.

The invention is explained in greater detail hereafter on the basis ofan exemplary embodiment.

In the figures:

FIG. 1: shows a treatment attachment in a cross-sectional view,

FIG. 2: shows a mobile data processing unit having connected treatmentattachment, and

FIG. 3: shows a block diagram of the function of the treatmentattachment according to FIG. 1.

According to the illustration in FIG. 1, the treatment attachment 8comprises a housing 6, under which an interface 5 extends for connectionto a mobile data processing unit 7 (not shown in this figure). A heatingelement 2, in the immediate vicinity of which a temperature sensor 3 isadditionally arranged, is arranged inside the housing 6 directly belowthe surface of the housing 6 facing away from the interface 5. As soonas the heating element 2 is energized, the surface of the housing 6facing away from the interface 5 is accordingly heated, so that a heattreatment is executable using this heated section of the surface of thehousing 6. The power supply of the heating element 2 takes place via anelectrically conductive connection, which is connected by the interface5 to the heating element 2 with a microcontroller 9 interconnected.

FIG. 2 shows the treatment attachment 12 illustrated in FIG. 1 in directcontact with the mobile data processing unit 7, specifically in whichthe interface 5 is completely inserted into a suitable connectoropening, i.e., for example, a lightning or USB connector of the mobiledata processing unit 7, so that the treatment attachment 12 is directlyconnected to the data processing unit 7. In this case, the power anddata supply of the heating element 2 and the microcontroller 4, and alsoof the temperature sensor 3 associated with the heating element, takesplace via the interface 5.

As is also apparent from this figure, the treatment attachment 12protrudes only slightly beyond the data processing unit 7 in the coupledposition, so that, for the treatment of a skin irritation, the mobiledata processing unit 7 is used at the same time for handling thetreatment attachment 12, i.e., predominantly for the purpose of placingthe surface of the treatment attachment 12 facing away from the mobiledata processing unit 7 on the affected skin part for the purpose of theheat treatment.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram in simplified form, relating to the circuitarranged inside the treatment attachment 12. Firstly, this circuit showsthat, via the interface 5, the circuit arranged in the housing isconnected to the connected data processing unit 7 via a power supply 10,and via a data line 11 to the data processing unit 7.

In one specific design, the heating element 2 is a resistor. Both thetemperature sensor 3 and also the heating element 2 are connected to thedata processing unit 7 in this case with a microcontroller 9interconnected.

It is not shown in the figure, but it is nonetheless possible and/orprovided in the scope of the invention that a mobile application, i.e.,in particular an app, which primarily permits the heating procedure tobe started and suitable parameters to be specified, is installed on thedata processing unit 7. The heating element 2 is then activated independence on these settings, wherein the procedure is controlled viathe microcontroller 9, which moreover transmits defined data forvisualizing and monitoring the treatment procedure to the mobileapplication installed on the data processing unit 7.

The microcontroller 9 is typically implemented as a component of thecontrol unit 4, wherein the control unit 4 is typically additionallyprovided with a transistor circuit for the power regulation of theheating element.

Thus, for example, reaching a predetermined temperature or ending thetreatment procedure can be transmitted to the data processing unit 7.

The temperature sensor which is also integrated into the housing 6consists in one advantageous design of two sensors which are notthermally coupled to one another, wherein one sensor measures thetemperature of the heating element, while the second sensor detects theskin temperature. The healing process can be accurately monitored andcontrolled on the basis of this arrangement.

The connection of the treatment attachment 12 to the mobile dataprocessing unit, in particular in conjunction with the mobileapplication which is also installed on the data processing unit 7,enables the treatment procedure to be improved in that the mobileapplication is firstly equipped with data by the user himself, forexample, relating to the health state of the user, which can then alsobe taken into consideration during the application of the treatmentattachment 12. Moreover, the monitoring of the treatment process by themobile application can also be used to make an emergency call ifnecessary, specifically, the parameters stored in the control unit 4would be met, for example, if no further movement of the user occurs orother parameters make an emergency situation probable. In these cases,an emergency call with specification of the potential location of theuser can be placed automatically via the mobile application.

A portable device for the treatment of skin irritations or smallinjuries, such as insect bites, effects of stinging plants orcnidarians, is thus described above, which is designed in a very smallformat and can therefore be carried along easily. Only a connector on amobile data processing unit, which is typically currently carried alongby everyone, is required to use the treatment attachment 12.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

-   1 coupling unit-   2 heating element-   3 temperature sensor-   4 control unit-   5 interface to a digital data processing unit-   6 housing-   7 mobile data processing unit-   8 --   9 microcontroller-   10 data line-   11 power supply-   12 treatment attachment

1-11. (canceled) 12: A portable device for thermal-medical treatment ofthe skin, having a treatment attachment (12), which can be coupled viaan interface (5) to a mobile data processing unit (7), preferably asmart phone, tablet, or wearable; wherein in the coupled state, ahousing (6) of the treatment attachment (12) overlapping the treatmentattachment (12) is provided at a suitable point with a heating element(2), which is coupled to a temperature sensor (3); wherein the heatingelement (2) is connected using the electrically conducting interface (5)to the data processing unit (7) with a control unit (4) interconnectedor wirelessly, for example, via a Bluetooth connection, in such a waythat the heating element (2) is supplied with current via one or morerechargeable batteries integrated into the data processing unit (7) insuch a way that the heating element (2) is heatable to a temperaturepredetermined via the control unit (4); wherein the treatment attachment(12) is attached in the attached state directly to the data processingunit (7), so that for the purpose of treatment, preferably the surfaceof the housing (6) facing away from the data processing unit (7) can beplaced by corresponding handling of the data processing unit (7) on thebody part to be treated. 13: The portable device according to claim 12,wherein, as a heating element (2), a resistor which heats up uponenergizing is arranged directly adjacent to the temperature sensor (3)inside the treatment attachment (12) directly below the surface of thehousing (6) of the treatment attachment (12) facing away from the dataprocessing unit (7) in the coupled state; wherein both the temperaturesensor (3) and also the resistor are connected via the power supplyintegrated into the interface (5) to the rechargeable battery orbatteries of the connected mobile data processing unit (7). 14: Theportable device according to claim 13, wherein the temperature sensor(3) has a data connection via the interface (5) or Bluetooth connectionto the mobile data processing unit (7). 15: The portable deviceaccording to claim 13, wherein a preferably small-format energyaccumulator is integrated into the housing (6) of the treatmentattachment (12). 16: The portable device according to claim 12, whereinboth the heating element (2) and also the temperature sensor (3) areconnected to the mobile data processing unit (7) via the interface (5)with a microcontroller (9) interconnected. 17: The portable deviceaccording to claim 15, wherein the interface both transmits (11)electrical energy and also comprises a data connection (10) to themobile data processing unit (7) attached in the coupled state. 18: Theportable device according to claim 12, wherein the treatment attachment(12) is connected in a coupled state via the interface (5) to one of theconventional connectors of the mobile data processing unit (7),preferably a lightning or USB connector, or a comparable connector, forexample, via Bluetooth. 19: The portable device according to claim 12,wherein both the treatment attachment (12) and also the interface (5)are embodied as water-resistant or watertight and moreover the interface(5) is provided with corresponding seal elements to form a watertight orwater-resistant connection to the mobile data processing unit (7). 20:The portable device according to claim 12, wherein the mobile dataprocessing unit (7) is usable via software, in particular an app, foroperating and controlling the treatment attachment (12), in particularfor controlling the heat treatment, by the parameters of the heattreatment, thus, for example, the utilized temperature and/or theduration of the heat treatment, being pre-determinable via the softwareby corresponding inputs into the mobile data processing unit (7) withthe control unit (4) interconnected. 21: The portable device accordingto claim 19, wherein the software is connected to the geo-trackingfunction of the mobile data processing unit (7), so that an emergencycall in conjunction with a location specification can be placed eitherautomatically upon occurrence of parameters predetermined in the controlunit, or by a corresponding active operation of the software.